Flow metering device



1951 E. H. CHRISTOPHER 2,570,322

FLOW METERING DEVICE;

Filed Feb. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Emanuel h. Christopher E. H. CHRISTOPHER FLOW METERING DEVICE Oct. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1948 Emanuel H. Christopher Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOW METERING DEVICE Emanuel H. Christopher, Bowie, Tex. Application February 4, 1948, Serial No. 6,305

11 Claims; (cl. 116117) This invention relates to an apparatus adapted for installation in a feed line and has for its primary object to obstruct the flow of fluid through the feed line and to enable the rate or velocity of the flow to be determined.

Another object of this invention is to control the flow of a fluid conveyed through a feed line underpressure and to enable the velocity of the flow to be easily and conveniently ascertained...

-Another object of this invention is to enable a proper and correct amount of fluid to be con-' Another object of this invention is to enable a fluid to be conveyed or conducted through a feed line under a pressure and to properly equalize the flow of the fluid and to enable the rate of fluid to be conveniently and easily ascertained visually.

These and ancillary objects are attainedby this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the sight device, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, showing the same installed with a feed line, the feed line being shown in longitudinal sectional view;

.Figure 2 is an enlarged view in perspective of the structural components of the sight device;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the longitudinal plane of the lines 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of lines 4-4 of Figure 1;.

and,

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of lines 5-5'of Fi ure 1.

This invention relates to a device, designed and adapted for installation in a feed line for liquefiable substances and functions to obstruct or control the rate of the flow of the liquefiable substance and to in association therewith enable the rate of the flow to be easily and conveniently ascertained. More specifically, this invention is constructed and adapted for employment in association with a fluid conveyed through .a feed line under a pressure, and would be particularly useful to complement a need in the art of distilling petroleum or crude oil.

It is the conventional practice in the artat the present time to convey the crude oil from the 'oil well source through a feed or pipe line to a refining locale, where the carbon constituents and knocking components are removed by the intermixing of the crude oil with a certain chemical. Thus, the chemical element used is like wise conveyed through a feed line, under a pressure, usually supplied by the gas from the oil well to a point where it is communicated with the feed line for the crude oil. The chemical fluid is contained in a suitable reservoir or tank, at a point adjacent to the oil well, and is led into a feed line, where the pressure of gas on the oil well conveys it through to the point of intermixing with the crude oil.

Previous to this time, various devices and apparatus have been employed to enable an operator to determine accurately'the efficiency of the treatment. It can be appreciated that it is of vital necessity that the proper amount of chemical fluid be conveyed to intermix with the crude oil in the correct and proper proportions, to perform the proper refining function. However, many of the devices proved inadequate in that while means was provided for ascertaining the flow of the chemical fluid, there was no means provided, whereby the flow could be accurately and properly ascertained and also, controlled, except at the source point or reservoir source for the chemical fluid. Accordingly, it is the primary purpose of this invention to provide means installed in a feed line or conveying line for a chemical fluid to en'- able the rate or velocity of the flow of fluid to be ascertained. In this respect, there is provided means, including a pipe equalizer, whereby the fluid flowing through the feed line, under pressure of the gas from the oil well, may be equalized in pressure and shunted through an ofl'set sight device, whereby the flow of the fluid through the feed line will be proportionate or equal to the flow of fluid through the sight device, so that, by ascertaining the rate of flow of the fluid through the sight device, the rate of flow through the feed line may be deter- 'mined accurately and positively.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown generally a fluid or chemical sectional trally in the end wall [6, providing a communi eating point for an integral longitudinally extending pressure equalizing pipe 20. The pipe 20 is centrally positioned in the pipe I2 and terminates adjacent to the end wall 14 in alignment with an extending internally threaded head or coupling I8, which projects from the end wall l4, whereby a continuation of the feed line may be attached thereto to convey the fluid to an intermixing locale, where the chemical fluid is mixed with the crude oil, for refining. purposes.

The oppositely extending end of the pipe 20 is suitably closed as by means of a cap nut 22,

which is suitably threaded on the extended end of the pipe 29, with 21. depending flange, hav- H ing circumferentially spaced openings or aper tures 26 disposed in the circular flange portion 24 thereof. l

Offset from the feed pipe sections and in communication therewith is a sight feed device generally denoted by the numeral 39, which comprises an-elongated casing 3-2, of any suitable size .or shape and having a centrally disposed longitudinal bore 34 disposed therethrough. The ter minating portions of the casing are internally threaded, as at M and 38, whereby the casing may be secured to the pipes l9 and i2, respectively. Suitably received and supported within the longitudinal bore 34 is a glass tube 42, which is viewable through the axially disposed enlarged horizontally aligned openings or sight points t4 and 45 formed in the sides of the casing 32, midway between the terminating and internally .threaded portions 38 and 49 thereof. =Seated within the enlarged portion of. the bore 34 is an annular rubber packing washer or bushing 52., withinwhich is inserted the extending end of the glass tube 52, thereby cushioning the end of the tube. A packing nut 54 is threaded within the internally threaded terminating portion 49 and 'is positioned against the rubber packing washer 52. The packing nut 54 has an externally threaded centrally disposed bore 56 disposed therethrough, within which is suitably threaded an extending nipple 55, which is secured .or coupled as at 59 to a complementary nipple .6I.. The nipple i! is joined by an elbow connection .64 to a laterally extending nipple -56 which is positioned within an axial opening 68 in the side wall of the feed pipe it and terminates-within the inner portion or interior of the pipe.

Seated within the opposite openend, within the enlarged terminating portion of the bore 341, is arubber packing ring 68, which spaces a packing nut 62, threaded within the internally threaded portion 38 of the casing 32 from the glass tube or transparent tubular section 62. 7

As shown particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings, the packing nut 62 comprises an extending nipple portion 64, which protrudes into the glass or transparent tube 42, having a centrally disposed longitudinally extending bore 66 disposed therethrough and communicating with a connect"- ing pipe 83, which is suitably threaded within a centrally disposed threaded opening H3, in the head portion of the packing nut 62. w h

' Suitably secured on the extending portion of the connecting pipe 68 is a T-coupling 1Z, w ithin which is housed a conventional needle valve, actuated by an extending handle 14. Threadedly {received in the opposite side of the T-nonneetion 12 is an intermediate nipple 15 which is received at its opposite end within an elbow connector 1'6, having a connecting nipple 78 secured in the opposite end thereof, the connecting nipple '18 communicating with the enlarged pipe section l2, and extending through the side wall thei'eoi'r 'within the casing 32. openings'M and 46, disposed in the sides of the In operation, the chemical fluid, of any suitable type, dependent upon the refining process employed, is conveyed through the pipe line 10, under suitable pressure from the gas originating at the oil well. The fluid conducted through the feed line I0 is conveyed through the pressure equalizing pipe 20, whereupon the majority of the fluid flows through the nipple extension and through the transparent tube 42, enclosed By reason of the sight casing 32, the flow of the liquid through the transparent tube 42 may be conveniently and easily observed. The chemical fluid flowing through the tube 42 is conveyed through the communicating nipple I8 into the enlarged pipe l2 and through the coupling [8 into the extending portions and sections of the feed line, whereby it is conveyed to the intermixing locale.

Of course, actuation of the needle valve, through the medium of the handle 14, controls the flow of the fluid through the sight feed device 36, into the enlarged pipe section l2 and into the terminating feed pipe sections.

Thus, it is apparent that there is provided a device, adapted for connection in a feed line, whereby a chemical fluid, for refining process of crude oil, which is conveyed under a pressure head, is suitably controlled and the rate of flow of the fluid through thefeed line is easily and conveniently ascertained.

'However, since many other modifications and purposes of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, upon .a persual of the foregoing description, in view of the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that certain changes in'size, style and arrangement of parts may be effected thereon, without a departure from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. i

Having described. the. invention what is claimed as new 1s: 7 7 a 1. An apparatus for determining the flow vof fluid through a feed line comprising an enlarged section in said feed line, an. inlet and outlet port in said section, a tube longitudinally disposed in said section and secured at one end to the inlet port, means associated with the tube .for obstructing the flow of fluid therethrough, asight device oiiset from said feed line and communicated with said feed line and said section for conveying the fluid 'from the tube to the outlet port, and. valve means in said'sight. device for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. v H

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said ob structing means associated with the tube i n cludes a flanged cap disposed on one end of the tube, apertures in theflange, said capend of the tube terminating adjacent to the outlet port in the section. i

'3. The combination otclaiml, wherein said sight device includes a casing having a menace rial bore, a translucent tube disposedin said bore, means at each end of the casing for securing the tube in the boreand pipe connections con- 'nected between said foregoing means and the feed line and enlarged section.

4. The combination of claim '1, wherein aligned oppositely disposed sight openings areformed in the casing for exposing the tube.

5. The combination--of -claim 3-, wherein said securing 'means includes packing nutsdetachably secured in the ends of thecasing and having internally threadedcentr'ally disposed bores for accommodating the pipe connections.

6. The combination of claim 3, wherein a valve is interposed in the pipe connections.

7. An apparatus for determining the flowof fluid under pressure through a feed line comprising a section interposed in said feed line, said section being provided at its opposing ends with an inlet and outlet port, a pressure reduction tube positioned in said section and secured in alignment at one end with said inlet port, means associated with the opposing end of the tube for obstructing the flow of fluid through the tube, a sight device offset from and communicated with the portion of the feed line downstream from the section and with the section for conveying the fluid to the outlet port and valve means associated with said sight device for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.

8. An apparatus for determining the flow of fluid under pressure through a feed line comprising a section interposed in said line and having opposing ends, one of said ends being formed with an inlet port and the other with an outlet port, a pressure reduction tube positioned in said section and secured in alignment at one end with the inlet port, means secured on the opposing end of the tube for obstructing the flow of fluid through the tube, and a sight device offset from and communicated. with the portion of the feed line downstream from the section and with the section for conveying the fluid to the outlet port.

9. An apparatus for determining the flow of fluid under pressure through a feed line comprising a section interposed in said line and having opposing ends, one of said ends being formed with an inlet port and the other with an outlet port, a pressure reduction tube positioned longitudinally in said section and secured at one end to the inlet port, means secured on the opposing end of the tube for obstructing the flow of fluid through the tube, and a sight device ofiset from and communicated with the feed line downstream from the section and with the section.

10. An apparatus for determining the flow of fluid under pressure through a feed line comprising a section interposed in said line and having opposing ends, one of said ends being formed with an inlet port and the other with an outlet port, a pressure reduction tube positioned longitudinally in said section and secured at one end to said inlet port, the opposing end of the tube terminating adjacent the outlet port, a flow obstruction member secured on said last end of the tube, and a sight device offset from and communicated with the feed line downstream from the section and with the section.

11. An apparatus for determining the flow of fluid under pressure through a feed line comprising a section interposed in said line and having opposing ends, one of said ends being formed with an inlet port and the other with an outlet port, a pressure reduction tube positioned longitudinally in said section and secured at one end to said inlet port, the opposing end of the tube terminating adjacent the outlet port, a flow obstruction member detachably secured on the end of the tube adjacent the outlet port, a branch conduit line ofiset from said feed line and said section and communicated with the feed line downstream from the section and with the section, sight means associated with said branch line and valve control means associated with said branch line.

EMANUEL H. CHRISTOPHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 212,758 Sprod Feb. 25, 1879 797,027 Tilden Aug. 15, 1905 1,047,548 Miller Dec. 17, 1912 1,942,598 Hewgley Jan. 9, 1934 2,035,953 Fernholz Mar. 31, 1936 2,196,959 Crothers Apr. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 365,721 Germany Dec. 20, 1922 377,055 Germany June 9, 1923 

